Renewable energy developer Voltis has submitted a screening request for a 500MW battery energy storage system (BESS) in Buckinghamshire.
Voltis hopes to find out whether the project will require an environmental impact statement. It will be located at Mop End Lane, Amersham, within the Green Belt and in the Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
The development is proposed to extend over 11 hectares of agricultural land. The project is also exploring whether a renewable energy generation site will be co-located with the project. Should it be developed, the system could connect to the electricity grid and provide stability services by accommodating variable renewable energy generation.
Readers of Solar energy portal will probably remember the discourse surrounding the deployment of solar PV installations and energy storage facilities on agricultural land. Earlier this year, the National Farmers’ Union of Scotland and Iqony Solar Energy Solutions stated that if Britain reached its net zero targets, PV would take up just 0.29% of available land (and 0.51% of all available agricultural land) would take.
To put this into perspective, UK airports currently use 0.2% of available land, and golf courses 0.51%.
According to planning documents submitted to Buckinghamshire Council, Voltis states that the development “may fall within the definition of Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 as it is an associated development affecting the operation of helps facilitate the project. electricity generation network”.
Voltis is currently conducting an online public consultation on the project, which will last until January 6, 2025.
Buckinghamshire is home to several large-scale solar PV projects. For example, in September EDF Renewables opened its consultation on updated proposals for the Rosefield Solar Farm project, which will also include battery storage and is classified as a Nationally Important Infrastructure Project (NSIP).
Solar energy portal asked for clarification and was told that capacity cannot be confirmed at this stage as proposals are still being developed.
In 2023, global renewable energy company Low Carbon achieved energy on its 22MW Fox Covert Solar Farm. The renewable energy company also announced plans to develop a 600MW energy farm in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, in March 2023, which will include solar and energy storage.
